Collapsible table leg mounting and latch structure therefor



Nov.

L. B. TURNER COLLAPSIBLE TABLE LEG MOUNTING AND LATCH STRUCTURE THEREFOR Filed 001'.. 24, 1946 leslie E f aff-71er' Patented Nov. 8, 1.949

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE TABLE LEG MOUNTING AND LATCH STRUCTURE THEREFOR Leslie B. Turner, Cowan, Ind., assignor to Harry M. Wolfe, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 24, 1946, Serial No. 705,399

3 Claims. 1

of a collapsible or folding table for pivotal or,-

hinged swinging movement and for latching the said folding table leg in upright or erected and table-supporting position and for unlatching it from upright and effective position for movement A into folded or collapsed position.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and simple devicetfor automatically latching the folding leg of a folding table in upright or eiective position as the said table leg is swung into upright orl effective position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and simple manually operable device for readily unlatching the folding leg of a folding table from upright or effective position and for movement into folded or collapsed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel folding table leg which is constructed and arranged for use and cooperation with the table leg latching device of the present invention and for use and cooperation with the manually operable means for unlatching the said folding table leg for movement into folded or collapsed position.

Other and further objects of the present invention 'will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing which, by way of illustration, shows a preferred embodiment of the invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. .Other embodiments of the Vinvention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the, present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentaryview of a folding table, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing a preferred embodiment of the new collapsible or folding table leg and latchstructure used therewith, the parts being shown in the position which they assume when the folding table leg is in upright or vertically extending supporting and effective position;

Fig. 2 is a View on line 2--2 in Fig. 1, partly in section and partly in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 3 3 in Fig. 2 illustrating the construction of the new table leg and the new mounting and latching device'therefor;Y

2 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating in full lines the relative positions of the parts when the folding table leg and the manually operable cam and latch control member therefor are moved into unlatching position and illustrating in dotted lines the relative positions of the parts when the table leg and the manually operable cam and latch control member therefor are moved into folded or collapsed position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a folding table, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the parts in the position they assume when the folding table leg is in its collapsed position; and

Fig. 6 is a bottom sectional plan view on line 6--6 in Fig. 2. A

A preferred embodiment of the new collapsible table leg and mounting and latch structure therefor is shown in the drawing and is shown as being embodied in a folding card table or so-called bridge table or the like which is generally indicated at I0. The folding table I0 may be of any suitable design and shape and -is shown as embodying a metal frame II to which vertically extending side walls I'2 are attached on the outer sides thereof, and a table top I 3 which is mounted upon the metal frame II and upon the sides I2 of the table. The construction thus far described may, however, be varied widely since -it does not form a part of the present invention.

The present invention embodies a folding or collapsed table leg I4 which is shown as being formed of tubular metal. The folding table leg I4 is substantially square in cross sectional form and includes integral and right-angularly intersecting side walls 26, 34, 35 and 44 as best shown in Fig. 6. The tubular table leg I4 is hingedly mounted upon a hinge pintle I5. The outer end portion I6 of the hinge pintle I5 is mounted in the metal frame II of the table, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, and the other and inner end portion I'I of the hinge pintle I5 is mounted in a bracket I8. The bracket I8 includes a pair of right-angularly intersecting arms 23 and 24 which constitute the body of the bracket I8. The bracket I8 also has an attaching arm I9 which is formed integrally with and extends at a right angle to the portion 24 of the bracket I8 at one end ofthe said portion 24. This attaching arm I8 is attached as at 2l) to the metal table frame II. The bracket I8 also has a second attaching arm 2| which is formed integrally with and extends at right angles to the portion 23 of the bracket I8 and this attaching arm 2I is attached as at 22 to the metal table frame II. As shown in the drawing (Fig. 2) the portion 24 of the bracket I8 includes a relatively narrow web portion which extends between and interconnects the body portion 23 and the attaching arm I9 of the bracket I8. Thus it will be noted that the upper end portion 25 of the folding 'tubular table `leg I4 jiprojects upwardly into the .bracket lIB between the right-angularly interconnecting metal frame parts I I of the table and the body portion '23 and the relatively narrow web 24 of the bracket I8.

As shown in the drawing, the 'upper `end `portion of the side wall 26 of the tubular table leg I4 is provided with an arcuate lor lenti/,ed slot 2.1.. and the inner end portion I'I of the hinge zpintle I projects through and worksin this slot 2l. A similar arcuate or curved slot (not shown) is formed in the side wall 44 of the tubulartable leg I4 and the upper and outer end portion I6 ofthe hinge Ipintle `i5 works therein. A washer 42 Jis mounted on the inner endportion II of the hingepintle I5 and the vhead 43 thereof,:as;shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, The upper end portion 28 of a `metal connecting 4element 29 is extended over the -hinge -pintle within lthe vupper end portion of the tubular` Itable leg I4 and the other yand lowerend portion 38 of this metalconnecting :element 2-9 is attached to the Iupper end portion of a coil spring I3l which is arranged within, the tubular table `leg i4. '.Ilhe lower .end portion 32 of .this coil spring 3i is attached .to an :anchoring element in the form of .a headed pin 33 which extends between the side walls 34 Aand 35 of the tubular table leg I4 and has lits yend portions ymounted in the said side walls 34 and 35. I

.A manually operable latch release and camming ,lever- 36 is pivotally mounted between its ends, as atB'I, upon the side wall 36 ofthe tubular leg I4. This latch release `lever .35 has alaterally extending arm or yhandle portion .3,8 .which `provides a thumb rest for use in manipulating the latch release lever 38. The latch release lever 36 'is` imounted `on the tubular -leg I4 below ithe table trame II and the side walls Il. thereof as the :parts are seen lwhen vthe table leg I4 is upright or vertically extending and vsupporting position, and the latch release lever `36 has a cam surface or edge vportion 39 Awhich is .adapted for camming engagement with the ,lower or bottom edge portion 40 of the wall 23 of .the `bracket I8, for a reason which Will bepointed out herematter.

jilhe upper `end ,portion 4I of the tubular table leg I'4 :is disposed in the position in which it is shown in Fig. l when the tubular :table leg I4 is upright or vertically extending .and effective position but isy adapted to be lowered with the table leg i4 during the operation of folding ,or collapsing the `.table ;leg I4 as will be described hereinafter.

The use .and operation of the new collapsible table leg and mounting and latch ystructure `are as follows: When lthe ltubular table leg .I4 is disposed in folded or collapsed positionas infFig 5, and when the parts of the device are in itheir respective positions, as shown in this ifigure, the coil `spring "3l is under tension. However, in order to move the tubular table leg I4 into erected or upright position fit is merely lnecessary to grasp `the tubular tableleg .I-4 and;rnanu ally pivot the same about its hinge mounting or pintle I5 into vertically extending upright and supporting position, 'as shown in Figs. 1, `2 .and .3 offthe drawings and .as `shown in full'lines .in Fig. `4. VDuringthis operation the tensioned coil spring :3| acts .through the ipin 33 to `pull the tubular table :fleg I4 upwardly, 1whereupon the upper end portion of fthe `tubular table leg I4 4 rides upwardly between the side wall 23 and the relatively narrow web portion 24 of the bracket IIB and the adjacent vparts fof the fmetal table `.frame :I I.. k,At the samextime the inner end portion I'I of the hinge pintle I5 rides into the :substantially vertically extending lower end portion of the .slot .2.1 which is formed in the upper .end .portion .of the side wall 26 of the tubular table leg I'4; and the outer end portion I6 of the St-ringe pintle SI5 works in a similar arcuate or curved vvslot (not shown) in the side wall 44 of ,the tubulartable .leg I4 it being understood, in 'this connectionl that the hinge pintle I5 does not, pf, itself, move during this operation since its end portions are xedly mounted as shown in Fig, i6 of the drawing. The .upper -endfportion vof the tubular table leg `I4 `-is `then held. in a `firm vertically lextending and effective or supporting ,position withinan-area which is substantially square in .cross section and Ywhich is dened .bythe side wall '23 and the relatively narrow ...web `portiond Iof -the bracket .I8 andthe adjacent 1parts .of the metal :table .frame I-I.

The slots, only one of which, 2.1, is vshown in .the drawings, have 1a substantial vertical por tion disposed adjacent thewall Vof 'the les.r `.that constitutes the .leading wall `when lthe leg -is ibeing folded. The slotsturther have a rearwardly extendingportion terminating beyond 'the vertical center :line 4of .thefside Walls of the leg. The pivot f3l for the release 4lever Y36 is .disposed .on thesideuwall .28 lof theleg sin alignment with the terminal Kend of that lsubstantial .vertical portion oi the-slots. This arrangementis such Athat Ywhen the Arelease,lever -is pivoted, the `reaction of the canisurface 39` on 'the stationary cam surface 4,0 of ,the side wall y23 Iof the bracket .displaces :the leg outwardly, the rearwardly y,extending portion of the slots accommodating .the pintle .I5 so that the leg is displaced '.angularly so .that the :cam surface .39 yof thelatch .lever can clear-the stationary-camsurf-acew of .the bracket. Y .-However, when it -is desired to uri-latch the tubular table leg Match-movementinto collapsed or folded position this may readily 4be effected by manually grasping the latch release lever .3.6 and .exerting the pressure of :the thumb vv,downwardly :on ,the -laterally xextending i arm portion 38 vof the latch Arelease lever so as yto pivot the said latch` 'release ylever .about its pivot 3J relative Ito the tubular -tablelleg YI 4 ron fwhich 'the latch release lever .-36 .and itssuporting Apivot 31 arefmounted. This action tends-torotate the latch .release lever-.33am ,la clockwise direction, as seen in Eig. ,1, .and .thus Aforces the upper `-`cam edge 3S thereof :intofcamming 'engagement with the lower edge A0 of .the ,side wall .or `tbody por, tion 23, of the bracket i8. This camming engagement of the cam .edge 3,9 .of the ,latchrelease lever 36 with the lower edgeportion 40 of the side wall 23 of the bracket I8 .urg-.es -the tubular table leg v.I4 :and .the latch release lever ,36 carrien thereby .downwardly relative .to the table top Il!) Aand its metal ,supporting Vframe II` and relative to lthe bracket ,I8 and .causes .the hinge pintle I5 to ride .upwardly into the curved .upper end ,.-portion of the slot .2.7 which is lformed ,in theside wall `.26 yof thetubnlar tableleg I4 while,

' at the same time, the outerend portion .I6 ,of the hingepintle -.I5 works in a corresponding arcuate or curved slot (notfshown.) in `theside wall 44 of .theotubular .table leg. .I4 thisaction tensions the coil spring .3.I.. This operation moves ,the upperendiportion .of the tubular ,leg v.Hl .downwardly in and relative to the bracketl to .a

point at which the upper edge portion 4I of the table leg I 4, pivoting about its hinge pintle I5 as a radius, will clear the adjacent wall of the metal table frame I I, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 of the drawing, whereupon the tubular table leg I 4 may be further pivoted into full collapsed or folded position, as in Fig. 5 of the drawing.

. The new collapsible table leg and mounting and latch structure therefor thus described and which are embodied in the present invention are relatively simple but yet are strong and sturdy in construction and may be used advantageously with folding tables of various sizes and types including folding card tables or so-called bridge tables as well as with other folding tables of heavier construction, and for other uses such, for example, as in restaurant or club tables, and the like.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, that the present invention provides a new and improved collapsible table leg and mounting and latch structure therefor having the advantages and desirable characteristics, and thus accomplishes its intended objects, including those hereinbefore set forth and others which are inherent in the invention.

I claim:

1. A collapsible or folding table leg mounting and latch structure for a folding table having a supporting frame, comprising a corner socket bracket attached to the supporting frame and including a side wall disposed in the folding plane of the leg and having an edge portion providing a stationary cam surface, a table leg socketed in the bracket and comprising a tubular end portion having opposite side walls disposed in the folding plane of the leg and each side wall having an arcuate slot formed therein in horizontal alignment with each other, the slots having a portion disposed adjacent the leading wall of the leg when the same is being collapsed and a rearwardly extending portion terminating beyond the vertical center line of the side walls of the leg, a hinge pintle having one end mounted in the supporting frame and extending outwardly therefrom and projecting through the socket and the leg and movable in the slots and anchored in the said side wall of the bracket, a pivot in the side wall of the leg adjacent the cam surface, said pivot being disposed in alignment with the terminal end of that portion of the slot adjacent the leading Wall of the leg, a manually operable latch release lever pivotally mounted thereon, and having a cam portion adapted to be manually moved into camming engagement with the stationary cam surface when the release lever is pivoted upon and relative to the side wall of the table leg, said cam portion extending-in the same direction as the rearwardly extending portions of the slots, and a spring within the leg and connected between the same and the hinge pintle normally urging the leg into its erected vertical position so that when the lever is pivoted the shape .of the slots permits the leg to move angularly and outwardly of the socket bracket so that the cam portion of the lever clears the cam surface thereby allowing the leg to be collapsed.

2. A collapsible or folding table leg and mounting and latch structure as defined in and by claim 1, wherein the free edge of the bracket adjacent and at right angles to the bottom surface of the frame constitutes the said stationary cam surface.

3. A -collapsible or folding table leg and mounting and latch structure as dened in and by claim l, wherein the free edge of the bracket adjacent and at right angles to the bottom surface of the frame constitutes the cam surface and the adjacent edge portion of the latch release lever constitutes the cam portion thereof.

LESLIE B. TURNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Ralson May 28, 1940 

